False Teachers Among Us
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· 9 viewsThe world that we live in is full of deception and false teaching about everything and anything and this is especially true for teaching about Jesus Christ. We need to (1) be aware of the false teachers and (2) know how to combat them.
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Good morning and welcome back!
This morning if you will turn in your Bibles to 2 Peter about the subject of false teaching.
Peter is writing this letter to the followers of Christ in a historically difficult time in the history of the church.
Much like what we discussed about Paul last week, Peter also knowing that his time is short on the earth, writes this letter as a final plea to the Christians to stay true to Christ and the teachings they have received.
And the one thing that Peter sees creeping in and destroying the Church is false teaching and false teachers.
And Peter knows all too well of the pervasiveness of false teachers both throughout the history of Israel, the present time, and the future times to come.
His teaching is a timeless reminder that in order to make heaven our home, we must do more than just "claim it by mouth," but must also live according to God's Word.
We must always watching and being on guard for the deceptions of the world that are present trying to draw us away from Christ.
We also have to know where we stand with God and also always walk according to the Spirit and not after the flesh.
And Peter builds off of this foundation to begin to raise the red flag and warn the people about a great danger to the church, that is completely separate from the Roman empire.
And in this chapter of Second Peter, he deals specifically with the subject of false teachers, false doctrine and their damaging effect.
Specifically from the passage here in Second Peter 2, this morning we want to look at:
False teachers among us.
How to recognize these false teachers.
The damage done by the false teachers.
So, starting in 2 Peter 2, verse 1, he writes . . .
Scripture Focus
Scripture Focus
But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
**NOW SKIP DOWN TO VERSE 17**
These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.”
False Teachers Among Us (vs 1-9)
False Teachers Among Us (vs 1-9)
So, very strong words and a very strong warning issued by Peter.
But again he starts out though warning us that the the false teachers and false prophets are among us every single day.
Again, in verse 1 he starts out . . .
But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.
Peter starts out with a historic biography reminding the people that throughout the history of Israel that there have always been false prophets among them.
This was not something new and was not something isolated to the Christian community either.
They have always been here and always been causing issues.
However, the key to this was that the false prophets were not outsiders, but those from within the camp of Israel.
And consequently, just like there were false teachers from within or among the people in times past, in the present (Peter's day) and the future (our day), we also don't have to worry so much about the false prophets from outside the church, but from those who rise from within the church.
And when we think about false prophets we think about Jim Jones or David Koresh but even these demons started in the church.
And they used their knowledge and understanding about the church and how the church works to, bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, as the KJV puts it.
In other words, they will secretly, and subtly introduce their evil doctrines and heresies, that fly against the Word of God, even to the point of denying the Lord that had died for them.
And that’s what we see happen.
Everything starts out innocent enough and it slowly gets worse and worse and worse.
Slowly moves further and further away from God and God’s will.
Which is exactly the point that John was trying to make when he also talks about false prophets in 1 John 4 . . .
Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
However, instead of testing the spirits, the people were, AND ARE LARGELY STILL blindly believing every thing they hear because these false teachers are disguising themselves and upstanding Christian leaders in the world.
We as Christians cannot do this.
We have to use the common sense God has given us, using His Word to test the spirits.
And if it doesn't line up to God's Word, then we MUST reject it.
If it walks like a duck, looks like a duck, quacks like a duck—it is a duck!
Folks, there is no new doctrine.
There is no new way to Heaven.
There is no new way to God.
Jesus is the only way.
Always has been and always will be. Period—full stop!
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
That is it, the only way. Case closed.
And people want to believe these crazy and strange ideas and doctrines, because it is an "easier way."
You don't have to give anything up to go to heaven their way.
You don't have to crucify the flesh.
You don't have to walk in the Spirit.
You don't have to take up your cross daily and follow Christ.
You can live anyway you want and make it.
Sounds great but it is all lies—lies because it does not match God’s Word!
And the false teachers don't really care, because your soul isn't their agenda.
Look at what Peter says in verse three:
In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
The KJV says they make merchandise of you.
The NIV translates it as they exploit you.
They are greedy, they are not concerned about your soul.
They are after money, power, prestige, reputation.
They exploit people to achieve their goals.
The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth.
**AND**
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.
They are out to commercialize Christianity.
They want to make it a business.
Look around at how this has started to happen today.
What about many of the television evangelists.
What about many of the "mega-church" pastors.
We hear that "God has really blessed them."
Many God has greatly blessed and they are doing a great work.
However, several are nothing but tools of the devil.
Because their focus is not the salvation of souls—their focus is the lining of their pockets.
WE MUST REMEMBER THE WORDS OF JOHN AND TEST THE SPIRITS as to whether they are of God or not!
And this isn't just true of the mega churches or tv evangelists.
Small churches must be aware of the same thing.
And the question we need to always ask is, ARE THEY TEACHING THE WORD OR ARE THEY RUNNING A BUSINESS?
However, make no mistake . . .
For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment; if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)— if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment.
So, before you decide to "watch Pastor So & So" instead of coming to church next week, or "sow your seed" in so & so's ministry, rather than your local church in hopes of great financial reward.
You had better first test the spirits involved and make sure it is lining up with God's Word!
Recognizing the False Teachers (vs 10-16)
Recognizing the False Teachers (vs 10-16)
Which brings us to the next point—recognizing them.
How do we recognize what is true and what is false?
Glad you asked!
Peter says in verse 10 . . .
This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, these men are not afraid to slander celestial beings;
They are bold.
They are arrogant.
They not even afraid to slander “celestial beings” (that includes angels, Christ, the Holy Spirit, and God the Father Himself).
And you say, “So and So pastor doesn’t do that,” they should be okay.
Are you sure?
Paul says . . .
The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
What about Idolatry? (Do they seem to worship stuff rather than God?)
What about hatred, wrath, strife, & seditions? (Hostility toward other Christians that may not agree with them? or an ugly attitude toward even the lost.)
TEST THE SPIRITS. Do they possess the Fruit of the Spirit?
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.
Peter also says they generally despise authority and despise being subject to the authority of anyone or anything.
Which is a direct contradiction of God’s Word . . .
Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.
This does include governmental leaders, but what he is really talking about is Spiritual Authority. Who do they answer to?
Peter also says they are presumptuous, self willed, not afraid to speak evil of dignities (divine things).
They are bold, arrogant, not afraid to slander celestial beings.
They will do and say things that not even angels, as powerful as they are, are bold enough to do or say.
AND THEIR MAIN THING IS DENYING CHRIST AND DENYING GOD'S WORD, SUBSTITUTING THEIR OWN "RELIGION."
Peter continues . . .
yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not bring slanderous accusations against such beings in the presence of the Lord. But these men blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like brute beasts, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like beasts they too will perish. They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you. With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed—an accursed brood! They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness. But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey—a beast without speech—who spoke with a man’s voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.
Damage Done By False Teachers (17-22)
Damage Done By False Teachers (17-22)
They are evil and over the years have caused untold damage to the Church.
Peter continues . . .
These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error.
Their teaching is empty, fruitless, without merit.
They speak great, boastful, "swelling words of vanity."
They appeal to the lusts of the flesh, "the easy salvation."
HOWEVER, THE DAMAGE IS THIS:
They prey on those who are young, weak Christians.
Those that are most impressionable and gullible.
They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.
Do we hear what he is saying here?
They had it.
They knew/know the truth.
They give it all up and turn back to the ways of the world.
They fall back into the sin that God had delivered them out of.
They are now in worse shape than before they ever knew the truth.
Peter says . . .
It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.
And at that point, unless something or someone helps them, there is no hope.
They are doomed.
Altar/Challenge
Altar/Challenge
And it all could have been avoided if they would have listened to God.
If they would have “studied to show themselves approved.”
If they would have “written God’s Word on their hearts.”
But what about us?
Are we prone to false teaching?
Are we getting tied up in the false narrative of the world?
Do we try the Spirits as we should?
Only we and God know the answer to that this morning.
Let’s pray . . .